April Schultz is a CFP® professional at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with two years of industry experience. She previously worked at The Colony Group, LLC, HoyleCohen Wealth Management, LLC, CPA Financial Group, Inc., and NB Private Capital, LLC. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, families, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional retirement plans, providing investment management, financial planning, tax and compliance support, and family office services. The firm employs a long-term investment approach that combines active and passive strategies within a customized framework tailored to clients' risk tolerance, liquidity, and tax circumstances.

Lisa Youk is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in San Diego, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 13 years of industry experience. She has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2017 and has been affiliated with New York Life entities since 2012. Outside of her advisory role, she performs as a professional belly dancer at various venues and charitable events. Eagle Strategies serves a broad client base, including individual investors and institutional plans, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored solutions delivered through multiple program types and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Mirko Lazenby is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 39 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining PNC in 2021, he worked at BBVA Securities Inc., BBVA Wealth Solutions Inc., BBVA Compass Insurance Agency, Inc., and COMPASS Bank over an 11-year span. Outside of finance, he is a co-owner of Lazenby Yoga, a yoga class provider in California. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio solution for employees. The firm’s approach utilizes approved model strategies implemented via mutual funds and ETFs, with portfolio management delegated to third parties and algorithm-driven risk assessment.

Steven Lipps is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in San Diego, CA. He holds the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and has 26 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Eagle Strategies in 2022, Mr. Lipps has been associated with Nylife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company since 1999. He is appointed with various outside insurance carriers for brokering non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional sponsors, and retirement plans, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services primarily on a non-discretionary basis. The firm operates within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure and offers multiple program types tailored to client and plan sponsor objectives.

Abdiel Valenzuela is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 31 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Principal Life Insurance Company, RBC Capital Markets, Avantax Advisory Services, and Puplava Securities Inc. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel. The firm’s advisory services emphasize direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

Roderick Evans is a CFP® with 35 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Independent Financial Group, LLC since 2021. Prior to this, he worked for 25 years at Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc. He is a board member of Rancho Santa Fe Farms Golf Club. Independent Financial Group provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and institutional plans. The firm employs a model-driven approach combining strategic asset allocation and multi-manager portfolios across various risk profiles.

Michael Muniz is a financial advisor with Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC in San Diego, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Integrated Wealth Concepts since 2019 and previously spent four years with Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves a broad client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office, and retirement plan advisory services, employing a primarily long-term investment approach with customized portfolios and a range of model and wrap options.

Richard Soennichsen is a CFP® with 41 years of industry experience, currently serving at Independent Financial Group, LLC since 2024. His prior roles include tenures at Grove Point Advisors, LLC, Grove Point Investments, LLC, H. Beck, Inc., and AFA Advisor Services LLC. He is also a licensed California insurance agent with experience dating back to 1985. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and institutional plans. The firm employs a combination of strategic asset allocation, multi-manager portfolios, and both passive and active exposures to develop client strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary management platforms.

Michael Mays is a financial advisor with Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. in San Diego, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and UBS Financial Services. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer and 50% shareholder of JSMD Wealth Management, Inc. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is an SEC-registered enterprise adviser with approximately 379 advisors and $18.6 billion in assets under management. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, nonprofits, and institutional clients, offering a range of advisor-managed programs, financial planning services, and outsourced CIO solutions through an open-architecture platform integrating multiple third-party managers.

Hannah Zuilan is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Nationwide Investment Services Corp for 12 years. Hannah is currently based in Chula Vista, CA. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, along with Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s approach includes integrated financial planning and managed account solutions, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Ethan Kearns is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has prior experience at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC and Equitable Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he has been involved in entrepreneurial activities including operating a custom upholstery business. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients through both investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types on the Passageway Managed Account platform, utilizing third-party portfolio managers and various investment strategies such as SMA models, tax-overlay services, and direct indexing.

Danny Recht is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 17 years of industry experience, including roles at Park Avenue Securities and Equitable Advisors. He serves on the board of the Foundation for Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) and is a member of the San Diego Council for AIPAC. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue Securities LLC, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies, providing tailored client relationships and access to insurance products and alternative investments.

Lucas Sorich is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Cerity Partners in 2026, he held roles at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. and Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. He has also worked in non-financial positions including at Trader Joe's and MOD Pizza. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets as of the end of 2025. The firm offers customized wealth management services with an investment approach that combines client-specific profiles, proprietary quantitative screening, third-party strategies, and direct security selection, along with access to alternative and private market solutions.

Sue Badgley is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with 40 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Rockefeller Financial in 2020, she worked at Merrill for 39 years. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting through a consolidated investment platform and operates as a registered broker-dealer, providing a range of investment and insurance services.

Douglas Shepard is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in San Diego, CA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has 27 years of industry experience, including 12 years with New York Life Insurance Company. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and retirement plan sponsors, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages a majority of its regulatory assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Ezekiel Cortez I is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group holding a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower, he worked at Vail Resorts and Whole Foods Market. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, delivering services through an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and manages a large participant base relative to its advisor headcount.

Troy Pearson is a financial advisor at Independent Financial Group, LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Independent Financial Group since 2004. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and corporate and pension plans. The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management solutions, utilizing both firm- and third-party models to tailor investment strategies based on client risk tolerances.

David Cariani is a CFP® and CFA® with 18 years of industry experience. He is currently with Private Advisor Group, LLC, where he has worked since 2022, following roles at Centura Wealth Advisory, Reilly Financial Advisors, Merrill, and Valuevest Management Company II. Outside of his advisory work, Mr. Cariani operates under the business name Advanced Wealth Advisory, LLC and holds an insurance license, offering insurance products separately from his investment services. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model and utilizes technology platforms and third-party managers to implement a range of investment strategies.

John Nielander is a Series 65 licensed advisor at Cerity Partners LLC in San Diego, CA, with approximately one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Cerity Partners, he worked at the University of San Diego and spent eight years in full-time education. Cerity Partners advises a wide range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, families, institutions, and investment entities, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2025. The firm offers customized wealth management services and employs a client-specific investment approach that includes proprietary quantitative screening, third-party strategies, and direct security selection, along with access to alternative and private market solutions for qualified clients.

Kevin Yang is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in San Diego, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and two years of industry experience. He has been with Empower Advisory Group since 2025 and was previously affiliated with Empower Financial Services, Inc. from 2023. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and emphasize long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.